Article 63 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 63 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article provides that fine penalties in drug offenses are cumulative and that they do not displace or replace the penalty of confiscation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تتعدد العقوبات بالغرامة، ولا تجب هذه العقوبات عقوبة المصادرة .
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 63 explained in plain English
This article deals with two kinds of financial penalties in the Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law, the fine and confiscation, and sets two rules:
- Fines are cumulative: fine penalties are cumulative, meaning they do not merge into a single fine; each fine that is set remains standing by itself.
- A fine does not displace confiscation: imposing a fine does not cancel the penalty of confiscation or take its place. Under the definition in Article 1, confiscation is transferring items or funds, or part of them, to state ownership by court judgment, because they are connected to an offense provided for in the Law or derived from it.
This article comes within the rules on overlapping penalties: Article 62 provides that a person who commits several offenses before a final judgment in any of them is tried for the offense with the heaviest penalty and is sentenced to its penalty and no other, and Article 64 allows discretionary flogging penalties to be merged, being content with the heaviest. As for fines, this article gave them a rule of accumulation, and also left confiscation standing alongside the fine.
In practical terms, paying the fine does not mean recovering funds or items that were ordered confiscated. To learn the effect of this rule on a particular case and how it is applied with Article 62, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in criminal and drug cases.
Practical example
A judgment is issued against Abdullah in two drug offenses that includes a fine, and orders the confiscation of a sum of money proved to be proceeds of the offense. Abdullah thought that paying the fine would return the confiscated sum to him, but this article provides that the fine does not displace confiscation, so the sum remains confiscated even after the fine is paid.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 63 of Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Criminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
شركة امتداد النظام للمحاماة والاستشارات المهنية
- Labour & Employment Law
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Law
- Commercial & Corporate Law
Frequently asked questions about Article 63 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
Do fines accumulate in drug cases?
Yes. The article provides that fine penalties are cumulative.
Does paying the fine cancel the confiscation of funds?
No. The article provides that fine penalties do not displace the penalty of confiscation.
What is confiscation in the narcotics law?
Transferring items or funds, or part of them, to state ownership by court judgment, because they are connected to an offense provided for in the Law or derived from it.
More articles on Participation, Attempt and Mitigation
- Article 8
The article requires the authorities to pursue anyone who participates in, incites, assists in or attempts outside the Kingdom an Article Three offense if the intention is to facilitate its commission inside the Kingdom.
على السلطات المختصة في المملكة اتخاذ الإجراءات وملاحقة الأشخاص المتهمين بالاشتراك الجرمي والمساهمة الأصلية أو التبعية أو عن طريق المساعدة بالتدخل أو التحريض أو
- Article 58
The article punishes anyone who takes part, by agreement, incitement or assistance, in the acts in paragraphs 1 to 5 of Article 3 with the penalty set for the offense itself.
يعاقب بالعقوبة المقررة على الجريمة نفسها، كل من شارك في ارتكاب أي من الأفعال المنصوص عليها في الفقرات 5،4،3،2،1 من المادة (الثالثة) من هذا النظام، سواء أكانت هذ
- Article 59
The article punishes attempting the Article 38(1) offenses with up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR 50,000, attempting other offenses with up to half the maximum penalties, and allows the court to add flogging.
1 - يعاقب على الشروع في أي جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في الفقرة رقم (1) من المادة (الثامنة والثلاثين) من هذا النظام، بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على عشر سنوات، وبغرا
- Article 60
The article allows the court, for valid reasons, to go below the minimum prison penalty in Articles 37 to 41 and to suspend the prison sentence imposed under Article 48, and explains the effects of the suspension.
1 – للمحكمة -ولأسباب معتبرة، أو إذا ظهر لها من أخلاق المحكوم عليه أو ماضيه أو سنه أو ظروفه الشخصية أو الظروف التي ارتكبت فيها الجريمة أو غير ذلك مما يبعث على ال
- Article 61
The article exempts from the penalties for Article 3 offenses any offender, other than an inciter, who takes the initiative to report the offense to the public authorities, on conditions that differ depending on whether the authorities already knew of it.
يعفى من العقوبات المقررة عن الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثالثة) من هذا النظام، كل من بادر من الجناة -ما لم يكن محرضا على الجريمة- بإبلاغ السلطات العامة عن
- Article 62
The article provides that a person who committed several drug offenses before a final judgment is tried for the one with the heaviest penalty and receives only that penalty, and that the heavier penalty applies if this Law and another law both punish the act.
1 - إذا ارتكب شخص عدة جرائم معاقب عليها بموجب أحكام هذا النظام قبل صدور حكم نهائي بحقه عن أي واحده منها، وجب محاكمته على الجريمة ذات العقوبة الأشد والحكم بعقوبت
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.